mid rising cases of crimes against women in the country and the uproar over the Hathras gangrape and murder, the Centre has issued a fresh advisory to states and UTs reiterating existing guidelines on women’s safety.
In the advisory, the Union home ministry said mandatory action must be taken in cases of crimes against women, adding probe into rape cases must be completed within two months as per law and that the dying declaration of a victim can’t be discarded merely because it has not been recorded by a magistrate.
The detailed three-page advisory came days after the gangrape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh sparked nationwide outrage.
The home ministry said there should be compulsory registration of an FIR in case of a cognizable offence under the CrPC, and any failure of police to adhere to laid down rules does not augur well for the delivery of justice.
The law also enables the police to register an FIR or a “Zero FIR”, in case the crime is committed outside the jurisdiction of the police station, in the event of receipt of the information on the commission of a cognizable offence, which includes cases of sexual assault on women, the ministry said.
